.

REVIEWS

“Strangely heartwarming… perfect for rainy days.” – The New Yorker

“Little things, it turns out, are extremely important to happiness, and THE BOOK OF AWESOME will remind you of a thousand little things that will make you happier.” – Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

“Neil Pasricha is to blogging what Jerry Seinfeld is to standup.” – The Globe and Mail

“Pasricha emerges a committed but inviting optimist, combating life’s unending stream of bad news by identifying opportunities to share a universal high five with humanity.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Even a cynical white person can’t deny the appeal of THE BOOK OF AWESOME.” – Christian Lander, author of Stuff White People Like

.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From neighbors with pools to ordering off the menu at fast-food restaurants to fixing electronics by smacking them, The Book of Awesome takes on life’s sweet feats with all the honest humor and winning enthusiasm that has earned Pasricha’s blog its millions of followers. But while powered along by Pasricha’s distinctive, fresh, and hilarious voice, The Book of Awesome isn’t about one man’s favorite things, but rather a catalog of the universal little pleasures we all share. With its focus on the many things that bring us together rather than the few things that split us apart, it’s a book that will appeal to people from all walks of life — housewives and college kids, children and senior citizens alike. Arising out of Pasricha’s riffs on popping bubble wrap and getting a trucker to blow his horn is an unexpected, genuine sort of inspiration, as The Book of Awesome offers up a hearty cheer for all the little things we take for granted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neil Pasricha never imagined that writing about the smell of gasoline, thinking it’s Thursday when it’s really Friday, or wearing underwear just out of the dryer would amount to anything. A self-described “average guy” with a typical 9-to-5 job in the suburbs, Neil started his blog 1000 Awesome Things, as a small reminder — in a world of rising sea levels, global conflict, and a troubled economy — of the free, easy little joys that make life sweet. He certainly didn’t anticipate that his site would gain a readership of millions of people, win two Webby Awards (“the Internet’s highest honor” according to The New York Times), be named one of PC Magazine’s Top 100 Sites, or become a place where people from around the world would come to celebrate the simple pleasures of daily life.

ABOUT THE RESPONSE

It’s difficult to overestimate the response that Pasricha’s countdown of awesome things has elicited amongst both critics and readers. Delivered with an irresistible mix of spirited humor and unchecked optimism, “like a snappy Jerry Seinfeld monologue by way of Maria Von Trapp” (The Vancouver Sun), Pasricha’s optimism has proved to be utterly infectious. “Life really is awesome after all,” wrote The Guardian; “Read it and you’ll feel good about being human,” said Jim Hedger (host of Webcology, Webmaster Radio). Housewives and college students, senior citizens and professionals, people from Chile and India and Bangladesh, flood Pasricha’s inbox daily with letters about what the site has meant to them. Teachers have had their students generate their own lists of awesome things. Bedridden hospital patients have written to say that the blog has shown them a new perspective; individuals struggling with depression claim the site has given them new hope; and fans from all over the world have checked in simply to say, “Keep up the awesome, man. It makes me happy.”

Now, Pasricha’s awesome things have made their way into the world of books with THE BOOK OF AWESOME (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, April 15, 2010). Combining classic entries from the website with a hefty chunk of brand-new content, and accompanied by photos throughout, The Book of Awesome is a much-needed reminder of life’s happy little moments, a hilarious and heartfelt thumbs-up for the awesomeness of everyday life.

MORE REVIEWS

“THE BOOK OF AWESOME reminded me of past pleasures, like an old friend, and left me looking for new joys today.” – Frank Warren, author of PostSecret

“Neil’s writing is funny, sweet, and filled with just enough nostalgia-laced goodness to bring out your own Pollyanna. I dare you to read this book without compiling your own list of Awesome Things to add.” – Jen Yates, author of New York Times Bestseller Cake Wrecks

“Neil Pasricha is the guru of small joys.” – The Toronto Star

“THE BOOK OF AWESOME gives me 14,001 things to be happy about. Bravo for taking note of the sunny side of life!” – Barbara Ann Kipfer, author of 14,000 things to be happy about

“The awesomest part about THE BOOK OF AWESOME is the realization that if you enjoy the simple moments in your life, you will be happier.” – Ben Huh, author of #1 New York Times bestseller I Can Has Cheezburger?

Share:

584 responses to “Book”

Let me be the first to say: Congrats, Neil! I’ve been following this site from day one, and have loved every single day of awesomeness that it has delivered. You deserve all the success coming your way. Keep it up!

I have a lot but one I just thought of was when you lick a crease of paper so that it’ll rip in a straight line and it actually tears in a frayed straight line rather than rips awkwardly. I love that bleachy taste and that bleachy satisfaction.

Hey, congratulations Neil. This site really is something special and it’s been a pleasure to share it with my readership too. Looking forward to future awesome things, and I’ll send any suggestions that are sufficiently awesome.

My favorite is “celebrating your pet’s birthday” one, that really struck a chord as we always did that for our mini schnauzer who passed away last year. It provided us (and him!) with tons of fun memories, silly photos, and some good hamburgers for him.

Awesome! thanks for the daily pick me up, I look forward to coming home and reading your daily post. Can’t wait for the book. Definitely publish ‘old dangerous playground equipment‘. That one is the best!!!

Congratulations! You are a smart, unique and wonderful person and you have worked for and earned every bit of success that you get. I have always been impressed with your individualism and your humble exactness. Let no one bring you down. Chin up and head up and be proud of all the bravados that come your way.

HEY! I love your site! It is my favorite blog and I am so happy that you won the Webby. I think you should put that one about your friend who passed away recently. Reading that entry, I felt I got to know him as a person and when I read the ending, I teared up. It was sad and touching.

Congrats! im on this site almost daily, and cant wait to put this book on my coffee table!

another awesome thing is when your commercial airline pilot acts as a tour guide announcing over the intercom when the plane is passing landmarks or points of interest. On a long boring flight this is just AWESOME!

Since my husband passed away in 2005 at the young age of 58 and leaving me a widow at the very young age of 50 and greiving simply and fervently for almost 6 months, I came to realize all the simple joys in the day. Something had to take over the greif I was feeling and I took to taking notes and writing things down in a journal instead of spending my time sitting in the chair wondering when my husband was coming back and worrying about what I was going to do without him.
ON a early winter morning, I was sitting with my journal reading past entries and realized what a wonderful world I had and the bubble of greif I had let surround me for so long started to deflate and disappeared.
I now work at an activity center for developmentally disabled adults, our mission statement is ‘helping them become more independent and integrating them into the community’……..and a lot of the joy I have in a day happens there.
Today I came across your website and I have to say…….this is the absolute BEST website on the internet. You have created something that the worlds population should go to every single day of their lives and read at least one awesomething…..It puts the world into perepective and helps realize that life isn’t so bad…….and theres always something to find joy in…..always a little thing to pay attention to….something to make the day better and make tomorrow something within reach no matter how desolate our situation is.
Thank you for creating your site…..I have bookmarked it and put a shortcut on my desktop as a reminder to go there daily……keep up the good work…….you have made my day brighter!!!
Kathy Zahn

Congrats, Neil! I’ve been following your site since day one, and it’s been a barrel of laughs the whole way. As for my suggestion for the book…without a doubt, my absolute favorite Awesome Thing is Old Dangerous Playground Equipment.